What's the best tablet in 2026?

Updated: 21/05/2026

Tablets have evolved into versatile devices in recent years. They’re productivity tools, creative canvases, entertainment hubs, travel companions, and sometimes the only screen you actually want to use after a long day staring at another screen. In 2026, there are several standout models that can cater to your needs and preferences, no matter what wild and wacky uses you have for them.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the best tablets available right now, plus advice on where to find the best iPad deals, Samsung tablet deals and general tablet deals in the UK, to help in your quest for the perfect device!

At a Glance

Choosing the best tablet in 2026 depends on individual needs and budget.

For top-tier performance: The Apple iPad Pro (M5) is the best tablet available.

For Android users seeking iPad-bothering premium features: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a strong contender.

For those needing a versatile 2-in-1 device: The Microsoft Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC, 13-inch offers flexibility and power.

For those looking for a powerful Android underdog: The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is a compelling option with strong performance and useful accessories.

For consumers looking for the best deal: The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the best budget tablet here and provides excellent value for everyday tasks.

For kids: The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro remains a standout option for youngsters when it comes to durability, parental controls and versatility.

Apple iPad Pro (M5): The Ultimate Tablet

The iPad Pro (M5) continues Apple's tradition of delivering bleeding-edge tech in its tablets. Equipped with the M5 chip, it offers exceptional speed and efficiency, making it ideal for professionals, creatives and anyone who wants a tablet that feels almost suspiciously powerful. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be!

Key Features:

Display: Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with Apple’s Ultra Retina XDR display using tandem OLED technology, providing vibrant colours, an extremely sharp picture, excellent brightness and deep contrast. Tidy!

Performance: Powered by the M5 chip, ensuring smooth multitasking and confident handling of intensive apps, creative workflows and high-end games. It’s almost disconcertingly fast.

Accessories: Supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, enhancing productivity and opening up new possibilities with creativity.

Price: Starting at £999 for the 11-inch model, with the 13-inch model starting at around £1,299.

Considerations: While it offers top-tier performance and is currently the best iPad money can buy, the iPad Pro (M5) comes with a premium price tag, which gets even more eye-watering once you add more storage, cellular connectivity, the Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil Pro. For those looking for the best gaming iPad, this also excels.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra: The Android Flagship

For Android enthusiasts, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a front-runner with its enormous, extremely sharp display and robust performance. If you aren’t a fan of iPadOS, this is probably the closest premium alternative to the iPad Pro. It’s also Samsung’s most advanced mainstream tablet.

Key Features:

Display: 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, delivering vivid visuals and loads of space for streaming, drawing, multitasking and gaming.

Performance: Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor, ensuring responsive performance for demanding apps, entertainment, gaming and multitasking. Long story short; it’s an absolute monster of a tablet.

Accessories: Includes a redesigned S Pen, catering to serial doodlers, note-takers and digital artists.

Storage: Available with up to 1TB of storage, with microSD support for extra space if you need it.

Price: Starting at around £850 to £1,300 depending on configuration, retailer and current offers.

Considerations: Its massive screen size may not be suitable for everyone, and the price is comparable to premium versions of tablets like the iPad Pro.

However, many believe this is one of the best Android tablets for gaming, streaming and drawing, so if you’re looking for a big-screen Android powerhouse, look no further!

Microsoft Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC, 13-inch: The 2-in-1 Powerhouse

The Microsoft Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC, 13-inch offers the flexibility of a tablet with the functionality of a laptop, making it a versatile choice for professionals, students and creatives alike. It’s the natural evolution of the Surface Pro line, and a more current pick than the older Surface Pro 9.

Key Features:

Display: 13-inch touchscreen, with OLED options available on selected configurations, ideal for both work and entertainment.

Performance: Runs Windows 11 and is available with Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X Elite processors, providing a full desktop-style experience in a portable form.

Accessories: Supports detachable Surface keyboards and the Surface Slim Pen for enhanced productivity. It’s an extremely versatile device!

Price: Starting from around £1,049 to £1,199 depending on retailer, configuration and offers.

Considerations: Accessories like the keyboard and Surface Pen are sold separately, adding to the overall cost. Some might argue you’d get better value from a regular laptop if that’s how you are going to be using it the vast majority of the time. Not us, mind! We like the adaptability.

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus: The Feature-Packed Underdog

The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus offers a compelling package with strong performance, a bright display and useful bundled accessories. It’s a fresher and more sensible 2026 pick than the older Lenovo Tab Extreme.

Key Features:

Display: 12.7-inch 3K display with a 144Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp, smooth visuals for streaming, gaming and productivity.

Performance: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, with 16GB RAM, making it well suited to multitasking, entertainment and more demanding Android apps.

Storage: Comes with 256GB of internal storage.

Accessories: Often sold with useful extras such as a pen and keyboard bundle, depending on retailer and configuration.

Price: Starting at around £699, with some bundles costing more depending on included accessories.

Considerations: While it offers impressive features, it’s not quite as polished or widely supported as the premium Samsung and Apple offerings in our opinion. However, it has strong raw performance, a large display, plenty of memory and useful accessories, making it a worthy alternative for work and play.

Amazon Fire Max 11: The Budget-Friendly Choice

If the price-tags above have made your eyes water, the Amazon Fire Max 11 caters to those seeking a reliable tablet that punches above its weight for everyday use without breaking the bank. Phew!

Key Features:

Display: 11-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels, suitable for streaming and browsing.

Performance: Features a 2.2GHz octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM, handling basic tasks efficiently.

Storage: Available with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD.

Price: Starting at around £165 to £200, depending on storage, retailer and offers.

Considerations: We believe this is one of the best cheap tablets. It's designed for casual use, so it may not meet the needs of professionals or gamers requiring high-end performance, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck!

Best Tablet for Kids: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

For parents looking for a durable, safe, and feature-packed tablet for their children, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is still one of the top choices in 2026. Designed specifically for kids aged 6 to 12, it balances parental controls, educational content, and entertainment. Nice!

Key Features:

Display: 10.1-inch Full HD screen with a durable kid-friendly case.

Performance: Features a 2.0GHz octa-core processor and 3GB RAM, providing smooth performance for learning and basic gaming apps. It’s not going to run Cyberpunk 2077, but it’ll do the trick with simple 2D games and the like.

Content & Controls: Comes with 12 months of Amazon Kids+, offering thousands of age-appropriate books, apps, videos, and games. Strong parental controls allow custom content filtering and screen time management.

Durability: Includes a kid-proof case that’s surprisingly tough and comes with a built-in stand.

Price: Starting at around £199.99 to £209.99, though it is often discounted during major sales events.

Considerations: While this tablet is excellent for children, older kids may outgrow its interface over time. Parents might want to think about transitioning to a standard tablet with parental controls as kids get older.

Where can you find the best deals on tablets?

Retailers like AO.com, Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis will often offer the biggest discounts and best deals on Apple and Samsung tablets (and other brands). However, before making a purchase, it's a good idea to check price-comparison sites and deal aggregators like hotukdeals and PriceSpy to ensure you're getting the best price.***

It’s also worth checking the manufacturers’ own websites, as Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Lenovo often run trade-in deals, student discounts, bundle offers or finance options that can make a premium tablet slightly less painful on the wallet.

Happy hunting for your perfect device!

You might also like:

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- Student Gadget Insurance: Get 15% off with Protect Your Bubble and Student Beans.

- Samsung Phone Insurance: Get cover for your Galaxy mobile.

Prices are reflective of the research conducted at the time of writing and are subject to change, as of 21.05.2026.

* Underwriter Assurant General Insurance Limited. Gadget age restrictions, T&Cs and excesses apply. Customer UK 18+.

** Trustpilot Score 4.4, 22,632 total reviews as of 21st May 2026.

*** We do not earn any commission from sites or links within this article. Our reviews and advice are based wholly on impartial desk research.